一个瑜伽行者的自传

第五十六章 The Levitating Saint

　　“I saw a yogi remain in the air，several feet above the ground，last night at a group meeting。”My friend，Upendra Mohun Chowdhury，spoke impressively。

　　I gave him an enthusiastic smile。“Perhaps I can guess his name。Was it Bhaduri Mahasaya，of Upper Circular Road？”

　　Upendra nodded。

　　“The yogi lives so close to my home that I often visit him。”My words brought keen interest to Upendras face，and I made a further confdence。

　　“I have seen him in remarkable feats。He has expertly mastered the various pranayamas of the ancient eightfold yoga outlined by Patanjali。Once Bhaduri Mahasaya performed the Bhastrika Pranayama before me with such amazing force that it seemed an actual storm had arisen in the room！Then he extinguished the thundering breath and remained motionless in a high state of superconsciousness。The aura of peace after the storm was vivid beyond forgetting。”

　　“I heard that the saint never leaves his home。”Upendras tone was a trife incredulous。

　　“Indeed it is true！He has lived indoors for the past twenty years。He slightly relaxes his self-imposed rule at the times of our holy festivals，when he goes as far as his front sidewalk！The beggars gather there，because Saint Bhaduri is known for his tender heart。”

　　“How does he remain in the air，defying the law of gravitation？”

　　A yogis body loses its grossness after use of certain pranayamas。Then it will levitate or hop about like a leaping frog。Even saints who do not practice a formal yoga

　　have been known to levitate during a state of intense devotion to God。

　　On my way home from school that afternoon，I passed Bhaduri Mahasaya‘s cloister and decided on a visit。The yogi was inaccessible to the general public。A lone disciple，occupying the ground foor，guarded his master’s privacy。His guru put in an appearance just in time to save me from summary ejection。

　　“Let Mukunda come when he will。”The sages eyes twinkled。“My rule of seclusion is not for my own comfort，but for that of others。Worldly people do not like the candorwhich shatters their delusions。Saints are not only rare but disconcerting。Even in scripture，they are often found embarrassing！”

　　I followed Bhaduri Mahasaya to his austere quarters on the top floor，from which he seldom stirred。Masters often ignore the panorama of the worlds ado，out of focus till centered in the ages。The contemporaries of a sage are not alone those of the narrow present。

　　“Maharishi，you are the frst yogi I have known who always stays indoors。”

　　“God plants his saints sometimes in unexpected soil，lest we think we may reduce Him to a rule！”

　　The sage locked his vibrant body in the lotus posture。In his seventies，he displayed no unpleasing signs of age or sedentary life。Stalwart and straight，he was ideal in every respect。His face was that of a rishi，as described in the ancient texts。Noble-headed，abundantly bearded，he always sat frmly upright，his quiet eyes fxed on Omnipresence。

　　The saint and I entered the meditative state。After an hour，his gentle voice roused me。

　　“You go often into the silence，but have you developed anubhava？”He was reminding me to love God more than meditation。“Do not mistake the technique for the Goal。”

　　He offered me some mangoes。With that good-humored wit that I found so delightful in his grave nature，he remarked，“People in general are more fond of Jala Yoga（union with food）than of Dhyana Yoga（union with God）。”

　　His yogic pun affected me uproariously。

　　“What a laugh you have！”An affectionate gleam came into his gaze。

　　“Those letters come from far-off America。”The sage indicated several thick envelopes on a table。“I correspond with a few societies there whose members are interested in yoga。They are discovering India anew，with a better sense of direction than Columbus！I am glad to help them。The knowledge of yoga is free to all who will receive，like the ungarnishable daylight。”

　　“What rishis perceived as essential for human salvation need not be diluted for the West。Alike in soul though diverse in outer experience，neither West nor East will fourish if some form of disciplinary yoga be not practiced。”

　　The saint held me with his tranquil eyes。I did not realize that his speech was a veiled prophetic guidance。It is only now，as I write these words，that I understand the full meaning in the casual intimations he often gave me that someday I would carry Indias teachings to America。

　　Maharishi，I wish you would write a book on yoga for the beneft of the world。

　　“I am training disciples。They and their students will be living volumes，proof against the natural disintegrations of time and the unnatural interpretations of the critics。”Bhaduris wit put me into another gale of laughter。

　　I remained alone with the yogi until his disciples arrived in the evening。Bhaduri Mahasaya entered one of his inimitable discourses。

　　This evening Bhaduri expounded various philosophical points connected with the life of Mirabai，a medieval Rajputani princess who abandoned her court life to seek the company of sadhus。One great-sannyasi refused to receive her because she was a woman；her reply brought him humbly to her feet。

　　Tell the master，”she had said，“that I did not know there was any Male in the universe save God；are we all not females before Him？”（A scriptural conception of the Lord as the only Positive Creative Principle，His creation being naught but a passive maya。）

　　Mirabai composed many ecstatic songs which are still treasured in India；I translate one of them here：

　　If by bathing daily God could be realized

　　Sooner would I be a whale in the deep；

　　If by eating roots and fruits He could be known

　　Gladly would I choose the form of a goat；

　　If the counting of rosaries uncovered Him

　　I would say my prayers on mammoth beads；

　　If bowing before stone images unveiled Him

　　A finty mountain I would humbly worship；

　　If by drinking milk the Lord could be imbibed

　　Many calves and children would know Him；

　　If abandoning ones wife would summon God

　　Would not thousands be eunuchs？

　　Mirabai knows that to fnd the Divine One

　　The only indispensable is Love。

　　Several students put rupees in Bhaduri‘s slippers which lay by his side as he sat in yoga posture。This respectful offering，customary in India，indicates that the disciple places his material goods at the guru’s feet。

　　“Master，you are wonderful！”A student，taking his leave，gazed ardently at the patriarchal sage。

　　“You have renounced riches and comforts to seek God and teach us wisdom！”Itwas well-known that Bhaduri Mahasaya had forsaken great family wealth in his early childhood，when single-mindedly he entered the yogic path。

　　“You are reversing the case！”The saints face held a mild rebuke。“I have left a few paltry rupees，a few petty pleasures，for a cosmic empire of endless bliss。The shortsighted worldly folk are verily the real renunciates！They relinquish an unparalleled divine possession for a poor handful of earthly toys！”

　　I chuckled over this paradoxical view of renunciation-one which puts the cap of Croesus on any saintly beggar，whilst transforming all proud millionaires into unconscious martyrs。

　　“The divine order arranges our future more wisely than any insurance company。”The masters concluding words were the realized creed of his faith。“The world is full of uneasy believers in an outward security。The One who gave us air and milk from our frst breath knows how to provide day by day for His devotees。”

　　I continued my after-school pilgrimages to the saints door。With silent zeal he aided me to attain anubhava。One day he moved to Ram Mohan Roy Road，away from the neighborhood of my Gurpar Road home。His loving disciples had built him a new hermitage，known as“Nagendra Math。”

　　Shortly before I embarked for the West many years after，I sought him out and humbly knelt for his farewell blessing：

　　“Son，go to America。Victory is written on your brow；the noble distant people will well receive you。”